Reetzke crowned Homecoming Queen

Rachel Denise Reetzke, a communication disorders major from Franklin, was crowned WKU’s 2009 Homecoming Queen on Saturday night.

Reetzke, the daughter of Dan and Denise Reetzke, was sponsored by Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha Order.

First runner-up was Lindsey Houchin, an English and allied language arts major from Bowling Green. She is the daughter of Allen and Martha Houchin and was sponsored by Kappa Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha.

Second runner-up was Rahwa Mehari, a psychology major from Nashville, Tenn. She is the daughter of Tsegaye Arku and Zaid Tewolde and was sponsored by National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Contact: Mindy Johnson, (270) 745-2459.

‘Dynasty of Dimes’ topic of presentation on Beech Bend Park’s Charles Garvin

WKU Libraries’ Kentucky Live series features attorney and former Beech Bend Publicist Robert Dickey to discuss Charles Garvin: Dynasty of Dimes at 7 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 12) at Barnes & Noble.

Dickey attended WKU and graduated from Centre College.  Following a stint in the Marines and a hitch as a reporter for the Bowling Green Daily News he graduated from Vanderbilt Law School.  His first client was Beech Bend Park owner Charles Garvin.

In Charles Garvin’s Dynasty of Dimes he tells the history of a man who he calls an “eccentric entrepreneur” who built an amusement park “empire” in Bowling Green based on 10 cent admissions.  It’s a fascinating story spanning four decades, and one indelibly linked with the tourist business in South Central Kentucky.

Contact: Jennifer Wilson, (270) 745-6977.

Kell to open Potter College lectures

Dr. Carl Kell, communication professor at WKU, will discuss his books on the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention on Monday (Nov. 9) as the opening speaker in Arts & Letters: The Potter College Faculty Lecture Series.

Dr. Kell’s lecture Onward Christian Soldiers – A Rhetorical History of the Southern Baptist Convention Holy War will begin at 7 p.m. at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. Admission is free. A book signing and reception will follow.

Against the Wind – The Moderate Voice in Baptist Life, the third in a series of three rhetorical/critical analyses of the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention, was published this year by University of Tennessee Press.

The other books in the series are: In the Name of the Father – The Rhetoric of the new Southern Baptist Convention (Southern Illinois University Press, 1999); and Exiled – Voices of the Southern Baptist Convention Holy War (University of Tennessee Press, 2006).

Contact: Potter College, (270) 745-2344.

Top volunteers, alumni honored in WKU’s annual Summit Awards

WKU recognized its top volunteers, alumni chapters and alumni Thursday night at the annual Summit Awards.

Distinguished Service Medals to recognize the service of the University’s top volunteers were presented to Dick Frockt, Lee and Margo Grace and Mark Marsh.

Jeff Baynham of Bowling Green is the Young Alumnus of the Year and J. Moseley of Franklin, Tenn., is the Alumnus of the Year.

The Summit Awards were presented at the Knicely Conference Center at WKU’s South Campus as part of Homecoming week activities.

The Barren County, Central Kentucky, Greater Louisville, Heartland, Music City, Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati and Warren County alumni chapters were recognized as Chapters of Distinction for their efforts in organizing alumni events, community service projects, student recruitment and special events.

University-wide volunteer of the year awards were presented to the following:

Dr. Charles Anderson of Bowling Green, WKU Public Radio and WKYU-PBS.

John Bayless of Glasgow, WKU-Glasgow Campus.

Louis Berman of Louisville, “A New Century of Spirit” Campaign Cabinet.

Dale Brown of Bowling Green, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board and The Center for Gifted Studies Advisory Board.

Craig Browning of Smiths Grove, Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.

Keith Cain of Owensboro, WKU-Owensboro Advisory Council.

Peggy Crowe of Bowling Green, Housing and Residence Life.

Bruce and Jama Danhauer of Morganfield, Parents’ Advisory Council.

Jimmy Feix of Bowling Green, Alumni W-Club Board of Directors.

Richard “Dick” Frockt of Las Vegas, WKU Foundation, Inc.

Lee and Margo Grace of Louisville, Journalism Advisory Council and Greek Life Advisory Council.

Andrea Gregory of Gallatin, Tenn., Alumni Association National Board of Directors.

Ron Hatcher of Smiths Grove, Kentucky Museum Advisory Council.

Ed Jerger of Paris, Tenn., Management Advisory Council.

Sherry Jones of Columbia, International Health and Human Services Program in Belize, Central America.

Rick Kelley of Bowling Green, President’s Board of Advisors.

Jason Loehr of Louisville, Young Alumni Council.

Mark Marsh of Bowling Green, WKU Nursing Advisory Board.

Jennifer Sims of Bowling Green, Libraries Advisory Council.

Bobby Thomas of Nashville, Tenn., Society of African American Alumni Executive Committee.

Becky Tomblinson of Bowling Green, College Heights Foundation Board.

William J. Travis of Glasgow, L.Y. Lancaster-Hugh Puckett Lectureship Society.

Janie Whitley of Bowling Green, College of Health and Human Services Board of Stakeholders.

Contact: Amy Miller, (270) 745-4395.

 

WKU Libraries to begin food drive

Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, WKU Libraries will accept food donations for a local food pantry in exchange for overdue library fines.  “For every food item brought to Cravens 4th floor, we will forgive $1 of the student’s fines up to $10,” said Paula Bowles, Library Public Services Circulation Assistant. “We look at it as a win-win for both the student and those folks in need of assistance at this time of the year.”

According to Sue Bryant, Pantry Coordinator at The Presbyterian Church, people needing food is on the rise. “With the challenging economy, we’ve definitely seen a steady increase for individuals needing food,” said Bryant. “Some months we get as many as 100 people coming in for food for their families so any donations we receive from the community are always greatly appreciated.”

According to Bryant, the best types of food to bring in are canned fruits or vegetables, hearty soups like chili or beef stew, peanut butter, bagged beans, crackers, pastas and even microwavable foods. Refrigerated foods are not allowed since all the items are stored in a room temperature pantry.

Bowles hopes to make this an annual affair for WKU Libraries and encourages everyone to bring in food to donate, whether they have a fine or not. “It’s tough right now for many families. We are happy to help relieve a little pressure off students and families in need.”

Food may be taken to any WKU library location. However, to have fees forgiven, food must be brought to the 4th floor of Cravens Library. The food drive will run from Nov. 9-20.

Contact: Paula Bowles, 270- 745-6167; or Jennifer Wilson, 270-745-6977.

3 teams from WKU competing in National Collegiate Golf Championship

Three teams from WKU will be competing this weekend in the National Collegiate Golf Championship in Las Vegas.

WKU students Will Brown and Chris Kendall, both of Bowling Green, are among 53 in the national tournament Friday through Sunday at Silverstone Golf Club. Brown is a sophomore finance major; Kendall is a freshman economics major.

WKU is one of 16 Play Golf America University schools with teams in the student competition. A donation from WKU Hall of Famer Kenny Perry, part of the 2008 Ryder Cup Outreach Program, was used to launch the Play Golf America University program at WKU this fall.

In the Faculty and Staff Division, Matt Morrison and Adam Whitt will be competing for national honors. Morrison and Whitt, both from Bowling Green, are employed by WKU athletics.

The father-son team of Billy and Jacob Hurt, both of Alvaton, will represent WKU in the Alumni and Community Division. Jacob Hurt is a junior interdisciplinary studies major at WKU; Billy Hurt is employed by 123 Wellness Inc.

The WKU teams qualified for the national tournament Oct. 2 at Cross Winds Golf Course.  The 2009 tournament marks the fourth year that WKU has sent teams to the national championships.

In 2006, the WKU faculty/staff team of Gary Meszaros and Peter St. Pierre captured the national championship. In 2007, the faculty/staff team of Steve Nagy and Peter St. Pierre finished as national runner-ups. In 2008, the faculty/staff team of Chris Brown and Jason Owen were national finalists and finished third. (Chris Brown is the father of Will Brown who is competing in the student division this year.)

The National Collegiate Golf Championship (NCGC) is a Collegiate Golf Alliance (CGA) initiative and endorsed by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). The CGA and NIRSA promote and market the National Championship to more than 750 colleges and universities making this the premier recreational college golf event.  In 2009, there were more than 5,000 participants with more than 400 qualifying for the National Championship. Approximately 250 colleges and universities were represented in local qualifying events, making this CGA and NIRSA event the largest golf event in the country.

Chris Young in concert Dec. 11 at WKU

Chris Young will perform Dec. 11 at WKU's L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center.

Country singer Chris Young will perform in concert Dec. 11 at WKUs L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the concert at 7:30. Opening acts will be Josh Thompson and Bowling Green’s own Easy Street.

“Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song),” the first single off of Young’s second CD “The Man I Want to Be,” was a recent No. 1 hit on the country charts.

Tickets are $25 plus a $3 service fee per ticket and are on sale at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To order by phone, call (270) 745-2578. Online ticket sales will begin soon.

For more about the concert, visit http://www1.wku.edu/agexpocenter

International Education Week events scheduled for Nov. 16-20 at WKU

WKU will present International Education Week Nov. 16-20 with a variety of events, including performances, panels and presentations, the World Fair, international movie nights, photo exhibitions and more.

All events are free and open to the public.

IEW provides opportunities to explore the world and our community while learning about the possibilities that arise from being part of a global society. Test your knowledge of world affairs. Participate in a world drum circle. Taste unique foods from around the world. Watch international movies. Learn about the Bosnian community in Bowling Green, the countries of origin of WKU international students, and study abroad opportunities. Plus, take a stab at running the world by participating in the o.s. Earth Global Simulation game.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education as a way of celebrating the benefits of international education and study abroad. The goal is to promote programs that prepare Americans for global experiences and attract international student to learn in the United States. According to Open Doors, 223,534 U.S. students studied abroad in 2005-06 and 582,984 international students from more than 200 countries studied in the U.S. in 2006-07.

The IEW events are as follows:

Monday, Nov. 16
2-3 p.m., Louisville’s African Drum Corps will be performing at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center amphitheatre.

6-8 p.m., the Film Club will present the Spanish movie The Bad Education at Cherry Hall, room 125.

Tuesday, Nov. 17
2-4 p.m., the World Drum Circle on the Hill will take place at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center amphitheatre. Everyone is welcome to join in learning and playing world rhythms on drums and other percussive instruments.

5-8 p.m., a photo exhibition and panel discussion on Bosnia to Bowling Green will be held at Mass Media and Technology Hall gallery and auditorium.

7-9 p.m., all freshmen students enrolled in a University Experience class are invited to Taste of Cultures where they will be able to meet international students and eat food from around the world. Tickets are available at the University Experience office.

Wednesday, Nov. 18
11 a.m.-1 p.m., The World Fair will be held at Downing University Center. International students will set up stations for their countries. Students who studied abroad will share their experiences. The WKU Students Around the World video montage will be showcased.

3-4 p.m., the Study Abroad Faculty Forum at Downing University Center, room  341.

6 p.m., the German Club will present the German film French for Beginners at Cherry Hall, room 302.

Thursday, Nov. 19
Noon-1 p.m., The Spice of Rice!, an event showcasing rice cultures from around the world, will be held at Garrett Conference Center, room 103.

5:30-9:30 p.m., the o.s. Earth Simulation will take place at the Garrett Conference Center Ballroom. o.s. Earth is a simulation game in which students will take on the roles of world leaders, from corporations, to governments, to NGOs, to the media. Two hundred students will simultaneously participate in two separate worlds and there will be a discussion at the end to compare the outcomes. Pre-registration is required by emailing oip@wku.edu.

Friday, Nov. 20
10 a.m.-1 p.m., Geography Awareness Day, featuring students and faculty displays, presentations, food and more, will be held at WKU’s South Campus.

6 p.m., the International Club will present the Japanese movie Spirited Away at Cherry Hall, room 302.

Contact: Nadia DeLeon, (270) 745-4857.

New exhibit opens on 3rd floor addition at Kentucky Library & Museum

Friday, Nov. 13, will mark the grand opening for WKU’s latest exhibit at the Kentucky Library & Museum, the Snell-Franklin Decorative Arts Gallery.

More than 500 pieces of furniture, paintings and other decorative art items are represented from as early as 1300 B.C. to the mid-20^th century.

“The majority of these pieces have been kept in storage for decades so we are thrilled to be able to finally display them to the public,” said Timothy Mullin, director of the Kentucky Library & Museum.

The museum’s third floor which served as storage for many decades has been renovated and is being utilized for new gallery space, Mullin said.

The Gallery is named for two men who provided significant contributions to the university: Commodore Perry Snell and C. Ray Franklin. Snell, a Bowling Green native, alum of Ogden College and highly successful entrepreneur, donated several pieces from his European collection including a child’s sarcophagus dating back to 1300 B.C. Franklin, an alum as well, donated beautiful decorative pieces dated in the mid to late 1700s including a valuable Chippendale tea table made in1765 from Philadelphia.

According to Mullin, the vast majority of the objects in the gallery are from Kentucky. “With the exception of the Snell European collection, most of the pieces are from the state of Kentucky,” said Mullin. “There are Shaker pieces from South Union and Mt. Pleasant and several wonderful pieces from our own university including a table and glassware set that former President Cherry owned.”

The Grand Opening will begin with a Chamber ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. and will conclude with an evening reception with a Roaring Twenties theme. Community members are welcome to attend; however, reservations are required for the party as numbers are limited for the early evening event.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact WKU Libraries at (270) 745-6977.

WKU forensic team members compete at Berry College, Marshall University

WKU forensic team members traveled to Rome, Ga., and Huntington, W.Va., on the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 1 to take part in two tournaments.

At both tournaments, WKU advanced all team members to elimination rounds.

Results from the Berry College “Georgia Mountain” Swing Tournament are as follows:

Jessica Furgerson, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, tournament champion in impromptu speaking, tournament champion in individual sweepstakes, second in informative speaking, third in communication analysis, third in extemporaneous speaking and sixth in poetry interpretation in the Alumni portion; tournament champion in individual sweepstakes, second in communication analysis, third in impromptu speaking, fourth in informative speaking and sixth in extemporaneous speaking in the Berry portion.

Seth Peckham, a senior from Alden, Kan., tournament champion in informative speaking, tournament champion in impromptu variations, second in extemporaneous speaking and third in persuasive speaking in the Berry portion; tournament champion in informative speaking and tournament champion in impromptu variations in the Alumni portion.

Jerome Davis, a senior from Austell, Ga., tournament champion in dramatic interpretation, second in prose interpretation and second in duo interpretation (with Jamaka Young) in the Berry portion; tournament champion in dramatic interpretation and second in prose interpretation in the Alumni portion.